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IT IS IMPOSSIBLE to pass Michael Youssoufian’s Hong Kong jewellery boutique, Michael Young Jewels, without pausing to gaze at the pieces in the window. Exquisitely wrought necklaces of diamonds, rubies and emeralds glitter enticingly. Magnificent cluster rings spill over with sparkling stones. Delicate earrings in the art-deco style are finished with tiny, lustrous pearls. Each is a work of art in its own right. Part of the magnetic allure of these pieces is

down to the stones themselves. Like many of the finest jewellers down the generations, Michael has an innate sense of the qualities possessed by each gem stone he picks up and an ability to draw designs to suit wide-ranging tastes and requirements from this simple but powerful starting point. It might be a delicate pendant in which a

particular sapphire or ruby will occupy pride of place. Or it might be a thick cuff bracelet composed of many different stones. Regardless, Michael will work closely with each client to produce a piece that fulfils their ideals of beauty and design. “Every request is taken personally,” he says.

“Building lasting friendships with clients is one of the most rewarding aspects of the business.” While many contemporary jewellery brands

subscribe to modern trends tending towards the stark and minimal, Michael speaks to a particular kind of shopper who seeks artistic quality in a piece of jewellery. “Art is a form of expression unlike any other,” says Michael, who studied at the High School of Fine Arts in Geneva before following his family’s footsteps into the field of jewellery. “All forms of art help to shape my ideas.”

260 A LEGACY OF LUXURY He gestures towards a cabinet housing an

eclectic array of designs marrying multiple influences from across the ages. His appreciation of the classics is always evident, not only in the rare collection of antiques that form part of his collection but also in the touches and techniques that characterise his custom creations. As the fifth generation in a long line of jewellers, Michael has always understood the importance of the past, learning from the mastery of his forebears, one of whom was appointed jeweller to the Royal Court of Egypt from the 1920s to 1950s. With both British and Armenian ancestry, he has honed his skills in some of the world’s greatest centres of jewellery, spending time in Alexandria, London and Geneva before establishing his own brand in Hong Kong in 1997. He now combines his passion for the past

with an astute understanding of current markets, translated into a ready-to-wear collection that speaks to a current generation of buyers. These pieces harness the time-transcending quality that have come to characterise Michael’s works, capturing the essence of contemporary style in a way that will be beautiful forever. For Michael, it has never been about following

trends. Instead, he stays true to his initial source of inspiration – the world of art, keeping his gaze focused on great works, past and present, as he ponders each new creation. “We don’t adapt our lines to the markets,” he says, firmly. “We stamp our own style on the jewellery world with each unique piece.” — www.michaelyoungjewels.com